BUSINESS DIGEST

Published: October 15, 1994

The Economy Reports on consumer prices, retail sales and industrial production showed an economy still expanding at a robust, but slackening pace, while price pressures remained moderate. Consumer prices rose two-tenths of 1 percent in September. Retail sales climbed six-tenths of 1 percent, and industrial production was flat. [ 37. ]

Many working women feel they are not getting the pay, benefits or recognition they deserve, a new Government survey shows. [ 9. ] Companies Shopping with a Visa card from a home computer may be made as secure and simple as using a credit card at a store under a system to be introduced by a start-up company, First Virtual Holdings of San Diego. The system is initially intended for the selling of electronic documents and other information. [ 37. ] Fox continued to be on the defensive as a partner backed down from its original plan to buy four television stations. The partner, SF Broadcasting, said it would restructure the financing of the company after a challenge from NBC. [ 37. ] AST Research plans to cut jobs by 10 percent and close a factory as it struggles with a price war in personal computers. [ 37. ] Nestle is now looking to expand through new markets for its foods and drinks after a decade of large acquisitions. [ 37. ] The F.C.C. settled a dispute involving Motorola's satellite project. The decision is a step toward approving global satellite systems that would relay calls via hand-held wireless telephones. [ 37. ] Toys "R" Us said it would stop selling any toy gun that could be modified to look like the real thing. [ 9. ] A takeover of Lilco by New York State could be good for rate payers and good for the company, which faces an uncertain future if it loses it monopoly status. News Analysis. [ 24. ] International The chairman of the Russian Central Bank resigned, a day after saying that the ruble's plunge was no reason for him to quit. [ 3. ] Markets Stocks advanced. Chemical issues were strong gainers, while some technology stocks fell. The Dow closed up 20.52 points. [ 38. ] The dollar weakened against other leading currencies, falling to 1994 lows against the mark and the pound. [ 45. ] Orange juice prices surged amid concern that dry weather in Brazil was damaging the world's largest orange crop. Coffee prices, however, fell on a report of rain in a Brazilian state. [ 45. ] Treasury securities rose for a second day on buying encouraged by the report on consumer prices. [ 48. ] Your Money The increase in the Consumer Price Index means, for one, that some 50 million people who receive Social Security and other Federal benefits will receive 2.8 percent more next year. But the index affects virtually every citizen in some way. [ 35. ] The tax paperwork for hiring nannies would be streamlined under a bill passed by Congress last week. The bill comes a year and a half after Zoe Baird's nomination for Attorney General was derailed by her failure to pay taxes for two household workers and after a public uproar for changes in the complex law. [ 35. ] Investors can make a straight bet on interest rates with interest-rate-based options. These options -- which are keyed to the 13-week, 5-year, 10-year and 30-year Treasury yields -- include no rights over Treasury securities. The rate is all. [ 35. ] Low-cost checking accounts will be mandatory in New York, under a rule passed by state regulators. Such basic, or "lifeline," banking accounts are already required in several states. [ 36. ]